Hugh Grant Biography

It's fitting to find the roots of Grant's vulnerable, boyish air in a middle class setting of London, England. His father was a carpet salesman and artist, and his mother a teacher. Hugh got his start by performing a British comedy sketch group, The Jockeys of Norfolk. While studying literature at Oxford University, he landed his first acting roll in Privileged at the age of 22. Following the film, he turned to the stage where he set up his own revue. During this time he also worked as a copywriter in London.

At the age of 27 his movie career took flight, when he won best actor at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in Merchant-Ivory's Maurice. Following this, he was cast in roles such as Lord Byron and Chopin.

Grant never seems to take himself too seriously, which made his youthful sophistication in Four Weddings and a Funeral so endearing. The film became a hit in the U.S. and world-wide, making it the most successful British film ever, grossing $320 million. It also won him a Golden Globe award for Best Actor and was listed as one of the top 10 Entertainers of 1994 by Entertainment Weekly. The surprise success made Grant the flavor of the year in Beverly Hills boardrooms.

In 1995, Hugh became the scandal of the year when arrested for lewd conduct in his car with prostitute Divine Brown. He pleaded no contest and received a $1,180 fine and two years probation. Newspapers and television shows around the world covered his troubles. Longtime girlfriend, model/actress Elizabeth Hurley (Austin Powers), was not amused and claimed she would never marry him. The couple has worked together on several movie projects, the latest being 1999's Mickey Blue Eyes, which Hurley co-produced and Grant starred in and co-directed.